I starting participating in Birthstone Books Covers in August 2025, and I’ve stuck with it ever since. I’m now in my 2nd time through, so the challenge is to find new books to spotlight! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — why not give it a try?
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. HAVE FUN!
September’s birthstone is sapphire. According to the American Gem Society, sapphire gemstones symbolize loyalty, nobility, sincerity, and integrity. Learn more about their history.
Sapphire is my birthstone (yay, September!), and I’ve always loved the rich color (and love checking out sapphire jewelry of all sorts). But more importantly…
Onward to the books! What a dilemma I’m facing — I featured a bunch of absolute favorites last September, and I promised myself I wouldn’t do repeats this time around!
So, here are more sapphire book covers I’ve found on my shelves… and if you’re curious, here are the sapphire books I featured in September 2025!
The Glory by Herman Wouk
A Deadly Inheritance by Kelley Armstrong
Meat Cute by Gail Carriger
The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan
Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Do you have any favorite sapphire book covers to share?
Thrilled to see the cover reveal a few days ago for the next book in Patricia Briggs’s terrific Alpha & Omega series:
Blurb from the publisher’s page:
Mated werewolves Charles and Anna Cornick must withstand the deadly magic of the Wild Hunt in this haunting entry in #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs’s Alpha and Omega series.
Something dangerous has been stirring in the Olympic Peninsula, but that’s not unusual. The rainforest has been attracting the attention of the supernatural denizens of the Pacific Northwest since before the first Western settlers appeared on the shores of North America.
But this time, that stirring is . . . convenient.
Charles and Anna Cornick have been tasked with keeping Charles’s brother’s child safe and hidden. But keeping a baby who is obviously of fae and werewolf descent secret is no easy charge. They need to give the infant an origin story that doesn’t involve family.
While Charles’s father, the Marrok, and his mate protect the baby, Charles and Anna travel to the Washington coastline. But the forest is old, and its shadows are deep. To survive, Anna must bargain with elemental powers, and Charles must dig deep into the treacherous heritage he has long suppressed.
For ancient magic is rising, and the woods ring out with the call of the Horn of the Wild Hunt.
Once again, the amazing cover art is by artist Dan Dos Santos — you can see more of his artwork here).
By the time Steel Rain is released, it will have been six years since the last Alpha & Omega book came out! I’ll definitely need a refresher… but I love these characters and this world so much that doing a reread while waiting for the new book will be no problem at all.
Preorder links: Amazon – Bookshop.org Note: These are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Back to the beginning… for me! A year ago, I participated in the Birthstone Book Covers meme — hosted by Leslie at Books Are the New Black — for the first time, and liked it so much that I’ve kept it going every month since.
And now, I’m back to where I started, ready for even more birthstone book covers! The challenge going forward will be to see if I can come up with NEW books to feature…
Want to join in this fun monthly meme?
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. Have fun!
August’s birthstone is peridot. According to the American Gem Society:
Though peridot is widely recognized for its brilliant lime green glow, the origin of this gemstone’s name is unclear. Most scholars agree that the word “peridot” is derived from the Arabic faridat, which means “gem;” however, some believe it’s rooted in the Greek word peridona, meaning “giving plenty.” Perhaps that’s why peridot was, according to lore, associated with prosperity and good fortune.
Peridot is the rare gem-quality variety of the common mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the Earth’s mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii, peridot once symbolized the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava. Rarely, peridot is also found inside meteorites.
Peridot’s signature green color comes from the composition of the mineral itself—rather than from trace impurities, as with many gemstones. That’s why this is one of few gemstones that only comes in one color, though shades may vary from yellowish-green to olive to brownish-green, depending on how much iron is present.
Earlier in the week, I shared a post with my list of books for the newest Classics Club Spin challenge (see it here), and today, this spin’s number was announced. (For those keeping track, it’s CCSpin #45, and for me personally, #17!)
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up.
For CCSpin #45, the lucky number is:
And that means I’ll be reading:
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier Published 1936
Synopsis:
The coachman tried to warn her away from the ruined, forbidding place on the rainswept Cornish coast. But young Mary Yellan chose instead to honor her mother’s dying request that she join her frightened Aunt Patience and huge, hulking Uncle Joss Merlyn at Jamaica Inn.
From her first glimpse on that raw November eve, she could sense the inn’s dark power. But never did Mary dream that she would become hopelessly ensnared in the vile, villainous schemes being hatched within its crumbling walls—or that a handsome, mysterious stranger would so incite her passions… tempting her to love a man whom she dares not trust.
That’s two Daphne du Maurier books in a row for my Classics Club spins, and I couldn’t be happier! Granted, I would have been excited to read any of the books on my list… but after being completely enthralled by Frenchman’s Creek, I was eager to explore more of this author’s books, so this is a terrific spin result for me!
What do you think of my spin book this time around?
I’ll be back to share my thoughts before October 4th!
Are you participating in this Classics Club Spin? If so, what book will you be reading?
Here’s my list of 20 titles for Classics Club Spin #44:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Eight Cousins / Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up. This will be the Classics Club’s spin #45, and my 17th time participating!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 16th August we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 4th October, 2026.
We’ll check in here on the 4th October to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!
What’s Next?
Go to your blog.
Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 16th August 2026.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 4th October.
I’m always excited when a new spin rolls around! For spin #45, I’ll be sticking with my interest in 20th century fiction, so that’s mainly how I’ve focused my list. Where will the spin take me this time? We’ll find out in a few days!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Eight Cousins / Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier
Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on August 16th to reveal my spin result!
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time last August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. Have fun!
Ruby is the July birthstone – and it’s one of the most coveted of gems. The name is derived from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red” – the color of love and passion. Few things catch the eye like the ruby birthstone. The finest color of the birthstone for July is a deep red with a hint of purple, called “pigeon’s blood” in the trade. A variety of the mineral corundum, ruby gets its color from trace amounts of the element chromium. The more chromium, the stronger the red.
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time last August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. Have fun!
June has three birthstones! The three gems are pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone.
For more about these three birthstones, check out the info page at gia.edu. I was not familiar with alexandrite at all until now — not surprising, as it’s considered very rare!
Alexandrite is the rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes color in different lighting. Most prized are those alexandrite birthstones that show a vivid green to bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light, and an intense red to purplish red in incandescent light. Major alexandrite deposits were first discovered in 1830 in Russia’s Ural Mountains. The gem was named after the young Alexander II (1818–1881), heir apparent to the throne. Alexandrite caught the country’s attention because its red and green colors mirrored the national military colors of imperial Russia.
Pearl has purity, wisdom, and tranquility. Pearls were believed the tears of the gods or moonlight that had been captured in shells. People believe that pearls have the ability to bring good luck and provide a relaxed vibe.
Moonstone shows love, self-awareness, a calm state of mind, and a balance of emotions. Moonstone, a birthstone, is frequently regarded as a precious treasure for fresh starts.
Alexandrite color-changing feature represents change and understanding. Alexandrite is well-known for its remarkable color change, which occurs when it is exposed to luminous light and changes from green to a reddish-purple hue.
June Birthstone Color
Pearl Naturally white, cream, pink, and even black. Freshwater and saltwater pearls can have subtle rainbow-like iridescence known asorient.
Moonstone Typically comes in milky whites or soft grays with a magical blue or rainbowadularescence(a glowing sheen)
Alexandrite Famous for its dramatic color shift—from green in daylight to reddish-purple under incandescent light.
Onward to the books!
Alexandrite is new to me, and I’m finding myself fascinating by its range of colors. Based on the images of the gem, I decided to look for book covers with a mixture of blues, greens, and purples… close enough!
Does alexandrite make you think of any favorite book covers?
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. Have fun!
May’s birthstone is emerald. I love a vibrant green!
Emerald, the birthstone for May, has been beloved for millennia, evoking rebirth and renewal. Widely regarded as the definition of green, emerald is the perfect color for spring. From the poetic description of Ireland as “the Emerald isle” to the vibrant green of the famed gemstone itself—the May birthstone emerald has captured hearts and minds through the ages.
Variations of this rich green color suggest soothing, lush gardens. Legend has it that emerald has the power to make its wearer more intelligent and quick-witted, and it was once believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria. Today, it’s the gemstone given for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
Earlier in the week, I shared a post with my list of books for the newest Classics Club Spin challenge (see it here), and today, this spin’s number was announced. (For those keeping track, it’s CCSpin #44, and for me personally, #16!)
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up.
For CCSpin #44, the lucky number is:
And that means I’ll be reading:
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier Published 1941
Synopsis:
Bored and restless in London’s Restoration Court, Lady Dona escapes into the British countryside with her restlessness and thirst for adventure as her only guides. Eventually Dona lands in remote Navron, looking for peace of mind in its solitary woods and hidden creeks. She finds the passion her spirit craves in the love of a daring French pirate who is being hunted by all of Cornwall. Together, they embark upon a quest rife with danger and glory, one which bestows upon Dona the ultimate choice: sacrifice her lover to certain death or risk her own life to save him.
And here’s a synopsis from another edition:
A lady bound by duty. A pirate who lives by desire. Together, they risk everything in a historical romance of freedom, danger, and forbidden love.
Restless in London’s rigid society, Lady Dona St. Columb escapes to the Cornish coast. There, shadowed creeks conceal a daring French privateer who offers the adventure she craves. Their secret encounters unfold in a world of stolen passion, dangerous choices, and the intoxicating pull of a gothic love story that defies every convention.
I’m excited! I’ve had a whole slew of Daphne du Maurier books on my TBR for what feels like ages, and I’m happy to have a push to actually get started. To be honest, I hadn’t looked into the plot of Frenchman’s Creek at all before today… and learning that it’s a pirate story makes me even more eager to read it.
What do you think of my spin result this time around?
I’ll be back to share my thoughts before July 5th!
Are you participating in this Classics Club Spin? If so, what book will you be reading?
Here’s my list of 20 titles for Classics Club Spin #44:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up. This will be the Classics Club’s spin #44, and my 16th time participating!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 17th May we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 5th July, 2026.
We’ll check in on the 5th July to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!
What’s Next?
Go to your blog.
Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 17th May 2026.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 5th July.
I’ve become hooked on exploring 20th century fiction, so that’s how I’ve focused my list. Where will the spin take me this time? We’ll find out in a few days!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson
Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on May 17th to reveal my spin result!
